To a data network related arrangement (bilateral)

ABSTRACT

The present invention concerns a data network related information-carrying and information-transferring arrangement that includes a central unit ( 10 ) and a number of slave units ( 11, 15 ), which co-act with the central unit ( 10 ) via information transmission ( 1 ), wherewith a document (D) can be sent to the central unit ( 10 ) from a chosen slave unit ( 11 ). The electronic document (D) includes protected text (d 1 ) and at least one (d 2 ) signature of a number of requisite signatures and can be sent to the central unit ( 10 ), wherein the central unit is adapted to check the document (D) automatically with regard to chosen aspects of the document, whereafter the central unit sends the document (D) bearing the electronic signature automatically to each of the remaining (15) parties that are required to sign the agreement document in order for the agreement to be binding. Each of these parties sign the document (D) electronically and return it to the central unit ( 10 ), which thereafter initiates activation of the agreed measures via available means ( 24 ).

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a data network related arrangement andmore particularly to such an arrangement that provides aninformation-carrying and information-transferring facility betweenconnected units and/or stations.

The inventive arrangement includes a central unit and a number oftwo-way information transfer units that can co-act with the centralunit, said two-way units being referred to as “slave units” in thefollowing text and can be designated “clients” in the case of certaintransactions.

One information transfer mode initialised by the central unit, which incertain transactions can be designated “session”, in respect of one ormore of the slave units will normally be preceded by an authenticatinghandshake procedure established therebetween.

An information transfer mode initialised by a selected slave unit inrespect of said central unit shall necessarily be preceded by anauthenticating handshake procedure established therebetween.

A document can be sent from a slave unit to the central unit and viceversa, subsequent to having established an accepted information transfervia said authenticating handshake procedure.

The present invention finds particular use with regard to exchangingdocuments between one or more chosen slave units and the central unit,or vice versa, where the document bears or can be provided with anelectronic signature applicable to said slave unit.

By “electronic signature” is meant in the following description that aperson authorised to sign a document signs electronically a transmittedelectronic document and returns the document duly signed.

The present invention is primarily based on the establishment of abilateral session established between two parties.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

It is earlier known within a number of mutually different data networkrelated information-carrying and information-transferring systems tocreate an arrangement that includes a central unit and a number of slaveunits, which can each co-act with the central unit, via the transfer ofinformation over the data network.

It is also known to allow such an arrangement to create conditions whichenable the central unit to initiate an information transfer mode orsession in respect of one or more of said slave units, and vice versa.

This information transfer can then be preceded by an authenticatinghandshake procedure established therebetween, so as to create therebyconditions, which enable document-related information to be transferredin an accepted and secure fashion.

With regard to significant features of the present invention, it canalso be mentioned that there are also known to the art different systemsand arrangements that allow electronic documents signed electronicallyby an authorised signatory of the company to be sent to a central unit,or to a receiving slave unit via said central unit, where a thus appliedsignature can be considered as an original signature by virtue of theauthenticating handshake procedure.

With regard to embodiments and applications proposed in accordance withthe present invention, it can be mentioned that there are known to theart different arrangements that enable economic transactions to beperformed, by enabling one or more slave units or clients to beconnected over an established data network with an economic transactionintermediary central unit, for example a banking system or the like.

In the case of this latter application, there are known to the artdifferent processes for protecting the text of a document and tosecurely establish a session via an information-transfer between aclient and a bank, such as to enable an economic transaction to becarried out without the client needing to be present physically in thebank premises.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Technical Problems

When taking into consideration the technical deliberations that a personskilled in this particular art must make in order to provide a solutionto one or more technical problems that he/she encounters, it will beseen that on the one hand it is necessary initially to realise themeasures and/or the sequence of measures that must be undertaken to thisend, and on the other hand to realise which means is/are required tosolve one or more of said problems. On this basis, it will be evidentthat the technical problems listed below are highly relevant to thedevelopment of the present invention.

When considering the prior art as described above, it will be seen thata technical problem resides in the ability to create and to configure adata network related arrangement, where an electronic document can betransferred from one or more slave units to a central unit or viceversa, where said document requires an authorised signature from each ofa number of authorised signatories each associated with his/her own partof an agreement, and where said document may also include one or moreelectronic signatures during the interchange phase between said twoparties.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in creating afunctional arrangement which will enable an agreement or contract to besigned or an electronic legal transaction or legal document to be signedelectronically more efficiently, without requiring the persons involvedto gather at one and the same place where they are or are able toidentify themselves.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides, to this end, inproviding an arrangement which can be followed synchronously but whichcan function sequentially and asynchronously without requiring theparties involved in the agreement to gather together at the same timeand in the same place.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by using in this regard anelectronic document that is provided with a text-protected agreementtext and/or text-protected signature or signatures and the requirementof one or more necessary further signatures, and to send this documentto the central unit from a first slave unit.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by adapting the central unitto check the document automatically in respect of chosen and applicablerespects.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by allowing said check toinclude at least one of the following criteria: a check to ascertainthat the text of the agreement document is protected; a check toascertain that one or more of the accompanying signaturesconsists/consist of one or more requisite electronic signatures; and acheck to ascertain what other electronic signatures are required inorder for the bilateral agreement to be valid and legally binding.

It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in the ability torealise the significance of and the advantages afforded by adapting saidcentral unit to send said received electronic document, bearing one ormore electronic signatures, automatically to each of the remainingparties required to sign the document or the agreement electronically inorder to make the agreement binding between two parties.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by allowing each of theseremaining parties to sign the document electronically and then to returnthe document to the central unit, which then checks the contents of thedocument, such as the text of the agreement, so as to ascertain whetheror not the text is still protected, and that the accompanying electronicsignatures are authorised signatures.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by causing the central unitto activate automatically available means for initialising and carryingout the conditions established and chosen in the document and/or thetext of the agreement, when the document and/or the agreement has beensigned by all authorised parties and duly checked.

Still another technical problem resides in the ability to createconditions in respect of the central unit such that it can be determinedthat the person or persons who has/have signed a document is/are trulyauthorised to sign the document in question.

In the case of an arrangement of the kind concerned here when such adocument shall be signed by a number of authorised persons, a technicalproblem resides in the ability to realise the significance of and theadvantages afforded by creating conditions which enable the central unitto establish readily and automatically which persons are authorised andto allow each of said persons to send the document concernedelectronically and thereafter obtain the document in return signed byeach of the authorised persons within a given time frame.

Another technical problem is one of being able to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by allowing said document tocontain or to have added thereto information concerning those personswho have the required authority to sign the document and are in amicableaccord with a document-carried and text-protected instruction oragreement sent to the central unit.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by allowing the central unitto include first means for checking whether or not authority-relatedinformation is correct via a register accessible to the central unit.

A further technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by providing the centralunit with second means which, when said information is correct, can beinitialised and activated such as to allow the central unit to carry outthe measures stated in the incoming and duly signed document inaccordance with instructions or agreements stated on the document.

The present invention finds particular application when the central unitconsists of or is related to a banking institution or like operator andwhere said instructions shall be related to an economic transactionand/or to another transaction which is of the utmost importance to theparties in general.

Another technical problem is allied with allowing said instruction tothe central unit to be related to an agreement between two or moreparties each having a slave unit, and where the central unit primarilyserves as a mediator/data exchange.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by creating conditions thatenable the central unit to include or to co-act with third meansfunctioning automatically to copy said document and its protectedagreement text with instructions or agreements and one or moreelectronic signatures, and to send such a copy automatically to eachperson who shall sign the document concerned electronically in theirauthoritative capacity.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by enabling the central unitto send automatically to each person who shall sign the documentelectronically in their authoritative capacity in respect of a secondparty in the document and the agreement, when each person associatedwith a first party in his authoritative capacity has sent electronicallyto the central unit his copy of the document containing instructions oragreements and duly signed electronically.

A technical problem also resides in realising the significance of andthe advantages afforded by allowing the central unit to include or toco-act with fourth means that functions to assist in carrying outnecessary authority checks in an archive or filing department in whichrelevant powers of attorney are filed.

A technical problem also resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by allowing said archive toinclude a number of organisation identities, such as organisationnumbers, current e-mail addresses, legal domiciles, registered offices,seats, certificates relating to private keys, and the like.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages afforded by allowing the central unitto co-act with or to include fifth means adapted for the registration ofpowers of attorney, where possibilities exist to change storedinformation, such as the duration of a power of attorney, activation ofblocking functions and/or the insertion of new information, where saidnew information can either be entered via the central unit or via arelevant slave unit.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of and the advantages associated with allowing such a powerof attorney register to include a number of authority codes.

Another technical problem resides in the ability to realise thesignificance of allowing said authority codes to be structured todetermine those conditions that are tied to a chosen document with achosen instruction or a chosen agreement.

In addition, the present invention allows a first authority code todenote that the authority required is the signatures of the entireBoard, that a second authority code denotes that the authority requiredis two or more given persons in combination, a third authority codedenotes that the authority required is the signature of the ManagingDirector (current matters, usual routines), a fourth authority codedenotes that the authority required is a message to a member of theBoard of Directors, such as the Chairman of the Board, and a fifthauthority code denotes that the authority required is a financial powerof attorney.

Solution

The present invention thus relates to an earlier known data networkrelated, information-carrying and information-transferring arrangement,which includes at least one central unit and at least a number of slaveunits that can co-act with the central unit via information-transfer,and where an information-transfer mode initialised by the central unitin respect of one or more of said slave units can be preceded by anauthenticating handshake procedure established therebetween, whereas aninformation transfer mode initialised by a chosen slave unit withrespect to said central unit shall be preceded by an authenticatinghandshake procedure established therebetween, whereafter an electronicdocument can be sent from a chosen slave unit to the central unit, orvice versa.

With the intention of solving one or more of the aforesaid technicalproblems, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that anelectronic document provided with protected text and at least one of anumber of requisite electronic signatures can be sent to the centralunit, said central unit being adapted to check the documentautomatically with regard to selected and applicable features.

The check shall involve at least one of the following criteria: a checkto ascertain whether or not the text of the agreement document isprotected; a check to ascertain whether or not an accompanying signatureor signatures consists/consist of at least one of a number of requisiteelectronic signatures; and a check to ascertain which other electronicsignatures are required in order for the agreement to be binding.

The central unit is also adapted to send said document automatically,bearing at least one electronic signature, to each of the remainingparties that need to sign the agreement text in order for the agreementto be binding.

Each of these remaining parties sign the document electronically andreturn it electronically to the central unit, which checks whether ornot the text of the agreement document is still protected and thataccompanying signature(s) is (are) the signatures of an authorisedperson(s).

When the agreement text has been duly signed by all authorised personsthe central unit automatically activates means for initiating theconditions established and chosen in the text of the agreement.

By way of suggested embodiments, that lie within the scope of thepresent invention, it is proposed that the document shall contain orhave attached (married) thereto information concerning the person orpersons to which requisite authority has been assigned to endorse andelectronically sign said document so that said document will be legallybinding, said document sent to the central unit carrying one or moreinstructions and/or one or more agreements.

In this regard, it is proposed that the central unit will include firstmeans, for checking in a register accessible to the central unit whetheror not determined and/or delivered authority-related information iscorrect or not.

If the information is incorrect, the slave unit concerned is informed tothis effect.

If the information is correct, the central unit will cause theactivation of second means, which can be initialised to allow thecentral unit to carry out the measures given in the incoming document,in accordance with the instructions or agreements entered on thedocument.

By way of suggested embodiments, that lie within the scope of theinventive concept, it is proposed that said instruction to the centralunit, a banking unit, telecom company or the like, may be related to aneconomic transaction.

According to the invention, the instruction to the central unit may berelated to an agreement between two chosen slave units, where thecentral unit shall function as an intermediary.

It is also proposed that the central unit shall include or co-act withthird means, which functions to allow the document with its instructionsor agreements to be copied on the one hand, and to allow such a copy tobe sent to each person who shall electronically sign the document inhis/her authoritative capacity on the other hand.

It is also proposed that when each of said persons has returned his/hercopy of the duly, electronically signed document in his/herauthoritative capacity, in a reliable fashion, the central unit willfunction to send automatically a copy of the thus signed document toeach person who shall electronically sign the document in his/herauthoritative capacity with regard to a second party to the agreement.

It is also proposed, in accordance with the invention, that the centralunit will include or co-act with fourth means for carrying out requisiteauthority checks in an archive containing relevant powers of attorney.

The archive shall include a number of organisation identities, and it isproposed, in accordance with the invention, that these identities willinclude organisation numbers, current e-mail addresses, company seats,certificates concerning private keys, or the like.

The present invention also enables the central unit to co-act with or toinclude fifth means for registering powers of attorney, where thepossibility exists of changing stored information, such as the durationof an appointment, activation of a blocking function and/or the additionof new information.

More particularly, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention,that a number of authority codes may be entered into the power ofattorney register.

These authority codes shall be structured so that they can determineconditions that are tied to a chosen instruction and/or a chosenagreement.

In this regard, it is proposed in particular that;

-   -   a first authority code shall denote that the document must be        signed by the entire Board in order for the document to be        valid;    -   a second authority code shall denote that the document must be        signed by two or more given persons in order for the document to        be valid;    -   a third authority code shall denote that the document shall be        signed by the Managing Director (standard issues) in order for        the document to be valid;    -   a fourth authority code shall denote that the document must be        signed by a member of the Board, such as the Chairman, in order        for the document to be valid; and    -   a fifth authority code shall denote that the required authority        is a so-called financial power of attorney.        Advantages

Those advantages primarily significant to a data network related,information-carrying and information-transferring arrangement reside inthe provision of conditions that enable a central unit to carry outinstructions and/or agreements obtained through the medium of anelectronic document compiled in one or more slave units, while retaininga secure authenticating handshake procedure, and where the central unitcan readily check electronically which persons are authorised to signthe document concerned electronically, relating to a current documentcarrying instructions or agreements.

In accordance with the invention, the central unit is able to determineand/or to check whether or not determined and/or supplied authorityinformation is correct or not, via an available register, wherewith thecentral unit is able to take the responsibility of sending a documentcontaining chosen instructions or agreements to each of the authorisedpersons, and also to receive from each of said authorised personselectronically applied signatures, all during the establishment of anauthenticating handshake procedure.

This provides a functional arrangement, which enables agreementdocuments or other legal documents to be signed more efficiently withoutthe persons concerned needing to gather in one and the same place wherethey are known or can identify themselves.

The invention provides a virtual gathering space and enables anasynchronous session to be carried out.

The primary characteristic features of an inventive data network relatedand information-carrying and information-transferring arrangement areset forth in the characterising clause of the accompanying Claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A data network related, information-carrying andinformation-transferring arrangement, at present preferred andcomprising a central unit and a number of slave units that are able toco-act with the central unit via information transmission, will now bedescribed in more detail by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified overview of the data network relatedarrangement that includes a central unit and a few slave units, whichare able to co-act with the central unit;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating different means and functionsassigned to the central unit, which acts in an information transfer modefrom and to a slave unit; and

FIG. 3 is a simplified function diagram illustrating the co-actionbetween said central unit and a number of slave units in the interchangeof a document.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AT PRESENT PREFERRED

It is pointed out initially that we have chosen to use in the followingdescription of embodiments at present preferred and includingsignificant characteristic features of the invention and illustrated inthe figures of the accompanying drawings special terms and terminologywith the intention of illustrating the inventive concept more clearly.

However, it will be noted that the expressions chosen here shall not beseen as limited solely to the chosen terms used in the description, butthat each term chosen shall be interpreted as also including alltechnical equivalents that function in the same or at least essentiallythe same way so as to achieve the same or essentially the same intentionand/or technical effect.

FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified illustration of a data network related,information-carrying and information-transferring arrangement 1. Thearrangement includes a central unit 10 and a number of slave units 11,12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, which are able to co-act with the central unit.

The invention is primarily concerned with an application establishedbetween two parties, a first party “A” and a second party “B” in abilateral session.

This information transfer can be achieved with the aid of each of saidslave units, via an information-carrying and information-transferringsystem “I”.

The data network system “Internet” may well be used in the arrangementillustrated in FIG. 1, said “Internet”-system being referenced “I” inFIG. 1.

The person skilled in this particular field will be well aware of theinformation-transfer sequences and information-transfer modes orsessions that can be established between the central unit and one ormore of the slave units 11 to 16 and how similar information carryingconnections can be achieved between one or more of the slave units 11 to16 and the central unit 10.

It will also be obvious to the person skilled in this technical fieldthat the illustrated central unit 10 may exist in a plurality ofdifferent units, this being illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 by thereference sign 10′.

Correspondingly, a plurality of slave units, such as those referenced11′ and 14′ can, of course, co-act with the central unit 10 or thecentral unit 10′.

It will also be obvious to one skilled in this particular art that rulesand protocol are required for the signal transmission of an electronicdocument containing one or more instructions and/or one or moreagreement clauses. However, for the sake of clarity, such rules andprotocols have not been described in this document.

It is mentioned, however, that at least when a document related to aneconomic arrangement and transactions shall be sent by the central unit,say the central unit 10, the unit is required to initiate an informationtransfer mode or session to one or more relevant slave units or clientsand that this is preceded by a handshake procedure.

A number of such handshake procedures are known to the art and will nottherefore be described in detail.

More specifically, each information transfer mode shall be preceded byan authenticating handshake procedure established between relevantparties.

An information transfer mode initialised in respect of the central unit10 by a chosen slave unit, such as the slave unit 11, shall be precededby an authenticating handshake procedure established therebetween.

An electronic “document” can then be sent from the slave unit 11 to thecentral unit 10.

A “document” according to the present invention may conveniently consistof one or more instructions sent from a slave unit 11 to a central unit10 to enable the central unit 10 to execute the given instructions andreport back the measures carried out.

A “document” according to the present invention may also consist of anagreement that requires a commitment between two or more slave unitsbelonging to a first party “A”, such as slave units 11 and 15, whereinthe central unit 10 shall be included as an intermediary and/or as aguarantor in respect of an economic transaction.

A number of slave units, such as slave units 11, 15, may be associatedwith a first party “A” and a second number of slave units 13, 16 may beassociated with a second party “B” in respect of an agreement.

FIG. 1 illustrates an information transfer mode, referenced M10, 11,between the central unit 10 and the slave unit 11, and an informationtransfer mode, referenced M11, 10, between the slave unit 11 and thecentral unit 10.

Also shown is an information transfer mode, referenced M10, 15, betweenthe central unit 10 and the slave unit 15, and an information transfermode, referenced M15, 10, from the slave unit 15 to the central unit 10.

As will be understood, each information transfer mode that shall beestablished between the central unit 10 and one or more slave units 13,16, and vice versa, can be identified by reference signs based on theaforedescribed structure.

The features of the invention will now be described in more detail withreference to an electronic “document”, with which two authorisedelectronic signatures are required in order for the document to belegally accepted, wherewith the signed document is sent from the slaveunit 11 to the central unit 10.

The document “D” may contain, inter alia, instructions to the centralunit 10 that require said unit to effect a “share purchase” and also tobill the account belonging to the slave unit 11.

In order for the unit 10 to be able to fulfil these instructions, it isassumed that the unit 10 will require two authoritative electronicsignatures from two different persons of which each has a slave unit.

Should electronic signatures be required from more than two differentpersons, the procedure associated with these conditions will be obvious.

It is assumed that the document “D”, shown in FIG. 2, includes anagreement text “d1” and a single electronic signature “d2”, whenreceived by the unit 10 from the slave unit 11.

The unit 10 checks, inter alia, the electronic signature “d2” and whenit is found to be correct causes the document to be copied together withthe signature and sends the document to a second slave unit 15 for anelectronic signature “d3” from an authorised person, whose signature ismissing from the document, whereafter the electronically signed document(D′) (d1, d2, d3) is returned to the central unit 10 (M15, 10), whichthen carries out the instructions and finalises the commission,subsequent to having made an automatic check.

FIG. 2 is a principle block diagram illustrating the central unit 10.

An information transfer mode or session, referenced M10, 11 (M10, 15)initialised by the central unit 10 in respect of one or more of saidslave units, such as the unit 11 (15) may be preceded by anauthenticating handshake procedure established therebetween, illustratedas a function block 21 in FIG. 2.

An information transfer mode or session initialised by a chosen slaveunit 11 (15) in respect of said central unit 10, referenced M11, 10(M15, 10) shall be preceded by an authenticating handshake procedureestablished therebetween, this procedure being illustrated as a functionblock 21 a.

Corresponding functions in the slave unit 11 (15), now shown in FIG. 2with reference numerals or signs 21, 21 a, have not been drawn or shownin the drawing.

A document “D” including instructions in accordance with the above isnow sent from the slave unit 11 to the central unit 10 and received in areceiving circuit 22 a and linked therefrom to a central processor unit23.

The central unit 10 co-acts with first means 101, with the aid of thecentral processor 23, to determine and/or to check in a registeravailable to the central unit whether or not the determined and/orstated authority information is correct.

In this regard, it is conceivable that the document “D” will carryinformation “d6” concerning those persons that are authorised to signthe document, this check being carried out in the unit 10 and in themeans 101.

It is also conceivable that the document “D” will include an extractfrom a current registration document.

It is also conceivable to store in the means 101 a list of persons thatare authorised to sign on behalf of the company with respect to specificassignments or commissions.

It is assumed that the check carried out in means 101 is positive,wherewith the central processor 23 is caused to co-act with a secondmeans 102, so as to allow the central unit 10 to carry out the steps andmeasures given on the incoming document (D′) in accordance with statedinstructions or agreements.

The document “D” can be sent to a slave unit 15 for signing, andreturned as a document (D′) to the central unit 10.

The measures taken can be initialised with the aid of a circuit 24.

The document “D” will preferably include or have added thereto one ormore pieces of information concerning those persons who have therequisite authority to endorse the instructions or the agreements statedon the document sent to the central unit 10.

Thus, in the case of this application, the document “D” includesprotected agreement text and/or instructions “d1”, and places “d2”, “d3”and “d4” where the document shall be signed electronically by authorisedpersons.

The document “D” thus includes information concerning those persons thatare authorised to sign the document that bears the instructions or theagreement “d1”. Alternatively, there can be added to the document “d1” afurther document “d”, which bears information relating to those personsthat have the necessary authority to sign the document bearing saidinstructions or agreements. By way of a further alternative, thisinformation may be found stored in the central unit 10.

In this particular case, the central unit 10 may comprise a bank or someother economic, financial institution and the instructions “d1” sent tothe central unit 10 may be related solely to an economic transaction.

The document “D”, sent to the central unit 10 and bearing saidinstructions, is primarily related to the central unit.

This central unit 10 shall thus carry out the commissions stated on thedocument, such as carry out the economic transaction, and therewithensure that one account number is billed while another account number iscredited a corresponding sum, wherewith the central unit 10 charges afee for carrying out the economic transaction.

In this particular case, the instruction applies to a share purchase orto some similar purchase, and it is assumed that one (or two) furtherperson (persons) is (are) required to sign the document “D”.

It is assumed that the person sending the document “D” to the centralunit 10 is authorised and that he/she can sign his/her nameelectronically at “d2”.

The unit 10 copies the document “D” signed at “d2”, and sends the copyelectronically to the e-mail address applicable to the person who shallsign the document electronically at “d3”.

If the document requires the signature of another person at “d4”, thedocument is sent to this person via the output circuit 24.

The commission can be carried out and finalised immediately the centralunit 10 receives the document duly signed at “d2” and at “d3”.

The instruction to the central unit 10 can also be related to an“agreement” between two parties “A” and “B”, where one party “A” isassigned the slave units 11, 15 and the second party “B” is assigned theslave units 13, 16.

In such an embodiment in which an agreement shall be valid between twogroups of slave units 11, 15 and 13, 16 respectively, and in which thecentral unit 10 shall function as an active or inactive intermediary,there is required in the central unit 10 a function system in accordancewith the following.

The document “D” passes to the central process 23 in the same way asthat earlier described.

The central processor 23 now co-acts with a third means 103, which isinstrumental in copying the document “D” and its associated agreements.

The central processor 23 can now create conditions which enable such acopy D′ to be sent electronically to each person who is authorised tosign the document electronically on behalf of his/her respective party“A” and “B”, wherewith each of said persons returns the document to theunit 10 within a given time period and the unit 10 carries out thecommission subsequent to checks having been carried out.

In the case of the FIG. 2 embodiment, a copy (D) (d1, d2) is sent to theslave unit 15 for signing and its return to the unit 10, with the aid ofan authenticating handshake procedure, wherewith the unit 10 copies thedocument (D′) (d1, d2, d3) received and sends said document to the slaveunit 13 and/or 16.

It is thus assumed that the document “D” sent to the central processor23 has been signed by an authorised person at “d2” on behalf of a firstparty, and that the document requires a further electronic signature“d3” from the first party “A”, where it is assumed that the signature“d3” shall be obtained from the slave unit 15, whereas an electronicsignature “d4” required from the second party “B” shall be obtained viathe slave unit 13 and/or 16.

The central processor 23 deals with copying of the document “D” that hasfirst been sent from the slave unit 11 to the unit 10, and sends a copyto the slave unit 15.

When the slave unit 15 has electronically signed the document, thedocument is returned to the central processor 23, which, in a furthersequence, sends the document (D′) bearing the signatures of the twoauthorised persons “d2” and “d3” respectively to the second party “B”for signing at “d4”.

When each responsible person of the first party “A” has duly signed thedocument carrying said instructions or agreements and has sent thedocument to the central unit 10, including the central processor 23, thecentral unit 10 thus sends a copy of the thus completed, signed documentbearing said instructions or agreements through the medium of thecentral processor to each one of the second party “B” required to signthe document in their capacity of an authorised signatory, said copiesbeing sent to each person simultaneously or in succession.

The central unit 10 that includes the central processor 23 also includesfourth means 104 functioning to carry out requisite authority checks.

This fourth means has the form of an archive 104, which is able toinclude a number of different organisation identities, such asorganisation numbers, current e-mail addresses, company seats,certificates relating to private keys required, to sign presenteddocuments electronically.

The central unit 10, which includes the central processor 23, co-actswith or includes fifth means 105 for registering powers of attorney,where it is possible to alter stored information, such as the durationof a term of appointment, the activation of blocking functions and/orthe insertion of new data, as illustrated with an arrow in FIG. 2.

A number of authority codes are included in the register 105.

These authority codes are structured so that conditions tied to a choseninstruction or to a chosen agreement based on a received document can bedetermined.

In this regard, it is proposed;

-   -   that a first authority cod denotes that the required authority        consists in the entire Board signing the document “D”        electronically;    -   that a second authority code denotes that the required authority        consists in the joint signatures of two or more given persons;    -   that a third authority code denotes that the required authority        exists solely in the signature of the Managing Director (routine        business matters);    -   that a fourth authority code denotes that the required authority        exists in a message being sent to a board member, such as a        document sent to the Chairman of the Board electronically; and    -   a fifth authority code requires the presentation of a so-called        financial power of attorney.

More generally, the setup and the use of the arrangement can begenerally described as allowing a person represented by the slave unit11 to open a case with the aid of his/her PIN code.

The case obtains the form of a document “D” and is allotted an identity.

The text “d1” is then entered into the document “D”, i.e. saidinformation or said agreement terms can be entered in the document.

Such a text can be protected against alterations (or text protected)with the aid of an electronic seal.

Those persons required to sign the document (d1, d2, d3, (d4)respectively) in order for the document to be valid and legally bindingare then noted, and a critical time frame, such as a date, within whichthe document shall be signed by all relevant persons may be included.

The central unit 10 and the central unit processor 23 shall ensure thatthe “signature” and/ or “signatures” from persons represented byrelevant slave units 11, 15, 13, 16 are in place, and that all otherpersons who shall sign the document electronically have also signed saiddocument and returned it to the central unit 10.

The present invention provides the possibility of liberating thesignatories concerned from time and space (room) in respect of signingthe document, since said parties are allowed to sign the documentelectronically in virtual space.

It will thus be obvious that the persons represented by said slave units11, 15; 13, 16 can take part in agreement processes and sign anddetermine the validity of the document electronically, regardless of thegeographical positions of individual slave units.

The process is able to follow the electronic signatures of the remainingauthorised persons synchronously during the actual agreement process,via the central unit 10 and primarily the central processor 23,wherewith the agreement process per se can be completed sequentially andasynchronously.

Any updating of the power of attorney register and any power of attorneyarchive is effected in real time.

The invention also offers an advanced checking pattern for distributionof the cases in different stages, wherewith termination between theparties, i.e. between selected slave units and the central unitrespectively, can be effected via open networks or closed networks, viaencryption in the most suitable case.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic illustration of a function schedule forco-action between the central unit 10 and a number of slave units 11,15, when exchanging a document within a first party “A”.

More particularly, a block 31 indicates the presence of a companycertificate, and a block 32 indicates the presence of a private key.

Reference numeral 33 is intended to illustrate the structure of acompiled document “D” that includes agreement text (d1) and a signature(d2), the text of said agreement being protected via a block 33 a.

Block 33 b is intended to show that other information, such asinformation intended directly for the central unit 34 (10), can beentered in the document “D”.

Such information may include a list of persons who shall sign thedocument, together with their electronic addresses; any symmetry in thesequence in which the document shall be signed; a time schedule withrespect to signing of the document.

The central unit 34 co-acts with a block 34 a representing current“business rules” for current businesses, assignments or commissions.

Block 34 b represents checking surfaces adapted, inter alia, to checkthe receipt of company certificates 31, used private keys 32, relevanttext protection 33 a, public keys, time schedules, etc.

Block 34 c represents an authority register, which either checks thatinformation given on the document “D” is correct or that the document issigned by authorised signatories, in accordance with the structure ofthe document.

Block 34 d represents a sequence of authorised signatories and/or a listof the signatories required in accordance with the measures concerned.

When the check has been carried out and the correct authority has beenchosen, the document “D” bearing the signature “d2” and produced via theblocks 31, 32 is copied and sent to the slave unit 15 and the personconcerned electronically, represented by the block 33′.

This person signs the document via the company certificate 31′ andhis/her private key 32′.

The signed document (D′) is returned to the central unit 34, whichchecks the document in control circuits 34 b′ at least with regard to;

-   -   a. the correct authority with regard to all persons that have        signed the document;    -   b. the correct sequence when this criterion is required;    -   c. the correct electronic signature/signatures;    -   d. the correct time schedule; and    -   e. the correct text protection and a check to ensure that this        protection has not been broken.

When these criteria have been fulfilled, the central unit 34automatically initialises said means 24 so as to allow finalisation ofthe text decided and chosen in the agreement

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to theaforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiment thereof, and thatmodifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept asillustrated in the accompanying Claims.

1. A data network related information-carrying andinformation-transferring arrangement, comprising a central unit and anumber of slave units that can co-act with the central unit viainformation transmission, wherein an information transfer mode orsession initialised by the central unit in respect of one or more ofsaid slave units can be preceded by an authenticating handshakeprocedure established therebetween, wherein an information transfer modeor session initialised by a chosen slave unit in respect of said centralunit shall be preceded by an authenticating handshake procedureestablished therebetween, whereafter an electronic document can be sentfrom a chosen slave unit to the central unit, wherein the electronicdocument provided with protected text and bearing at least one signatureof a number of requisite signatures can be sent to the central unit,wherein the central unit is adapted to automatically check the documentin respect of chosen features; wherein said check comprises at least acheck to ascertain that the text of the document is protected, a checkto ascertain that the electronic signature accompanying the documentconsists of one of several requisite electronic signatures and a checkto ascertain which other electronic signatures are required in order forthe agreement to be valid; in that said central unit is adapted to sendsaid document bearing said electronic signature automatically to each ofthe remaining entities required to sign the agreement text in order forthe agreement to be binding; in that each of said entities signs thedocument electronically and returns said document to the central unit,which checks that the text of the document is protected and that theaccompanying signatures have been made by authorised persons; and inthat, when the text has been signed by all authorised entities, thecentral unit automatically activates means for initiating conditions setand chosen in the text.
 2. An arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe document contains or has appended thereto information relating tothe person or persons that has/have been given the necessary authorityto endorse and electronically sign said document, and a requisitesequential order.
 3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein saiddocument contains one or more instructions and/or one or moreagreements.
 4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the centralunit includes first means for establishing and/or checking whether ornot the authority-related information, with the aid of a registeraccessible to the central unit to this end, wherein if theauthority-related information is correct, the central unit uses secondmeans that can be activated to enable the central unit to carry out themeasures given in the incoming document, in accordance with theinstructions or agreements given in said document.
 5. An arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the document has appended theretoinformation relating to those persons that have the necessary authorityto sign the document, and the electronic address of said persons.
 6. Anarrangement according to claim 1, wherein said instructions sent to thecentral unit, a banking institution or the like, relate to an economictransaction.
 7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in that theinstructions sent to the central unit are related to an agreementbetween two or more slave units.
 8. An arrangement according to claim 7,wherein the central unit includes or co-acts with third meansfunctioning to allow said document and/or said instructions oragreements to be copied and to send to each person or entity that shallsign the document with its instructions or agreements electronically inhis/her capacity of an authorised person.
 9. An arrangement according toclaim 8, wherein when each person sends his/her copy of the documentbearing instructions or agreements and duly signed electronically bysaid person in his/her capacity of a person authorised in respect of afirst party, the central unit is allowed to send a copy of the thussigned document bearing said instructions or agreements to eachauthorised person of a second party for signing of the document bearingsaid instructions or agreements electronically.
 10. An arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the central unit includes or co-acts withfourth means for carrying out requisite authority checks in an archiveor the like, in which relevant powers of attorney are kept.
 11. Anarrangement according to claim 10, wherein said archive includes anumber of organisation identities, such as organisation numbers, currente-mail addresses, company seats, certificates relating to private keys.12. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the central unitco-acts with or includes fifth means for the registration of powers ofattorney, wherein the arrangement includes the possibility of alteringinformation stored in said register, such as the duration of anappointment, the activation of a blocking function, and/or the insertionof new information.
 13. An arrangement according to claim 12, whereinsaid register includes a number of authority codes.
 14. An arrangementaccording to claim 13, wherein said authority codes are structured toenable the determination of conditions that are tied to a choseninstruction or to a chosen agreement.
 15. An arrangement according toclaim 13, wherein a first authority code denotes that the authorityrequired exists in the signature of every member of the Board; in that asecond authority code denotes that the authority required resides in thejoint signing of two or more given persons; in that a third authoritycode denotes that the authority required resides solely in the signatureof the Managing Director (routine business matters); in that a fourthauthority code denotes that the authority required resides in a messagesent to a board member, such as the Chairman of the Board; and in that afifth authority code denotes that the authority required is a so-calledfinancial power of attorney.